One of the most important forms of classical music is without a doubt the sonata. The meaning of the term “sonata”, which is derived from the Italian word “sonare” which means “to sound” or “to play”, has changed considerably over time. Browse our sheet music and scores, grab your all your favourites, and find out more about the sonata here today!
The term “sonata” derives from the second half of the 16th century, and refers to different types of instrumental compositions for two or more instruments. The term came about to distinguish the sonata from solo pieces for keyboard instruments, and from pieces with singing, such as cantatas.
The main difference between the baroque sonata and the classical sonata is the number of movements, the baroque sonata has at least four or more, in which slow and fast tempos alternate regularly. The baroque sonata is divided into two basic types:
Sonata da camera (“Chamber Sonata”) – which has a light dance character and is the predecessor of the baroque dance suite.
Sonata da chiesa (“Church sonata”) – which is usually in four movements and has a more serious character.
Depending on the size of the line-up, Baroque sonatas can be further subdivided into Solo Sonata for one instrument (usually violin) and basso continuo, and Trio Sonata for two solo instruments and basso continuo.
One of the most well-known composers of the Baroque sonata is the Italian composer Arcangelo Corelli (1653-1713). Both the Church Sonatas by Corelli and the Chamber Sonatas by Corelli are still very popular with instrumentalists and listeners today.
At the turn of the 17th and 18th centuries, the sonata da chiesa gradually evolved into what is known as the Neapolitan overture, where the introductory slow movement has been removed. The result was a three-movement form, with the tempo structure fast-slow-fast within each movement, which became the model not only for the classical sonata, but also for many other musical forms.
The Italian composer Domenico Scarlatti (1685-1757) contributed a great deal to the development of the sonata. The Sonatas by Scarlatti were usually composed in the traditional sonata form, a one-movement work with two contrasting themes.
During the Classical period, the sonata continued to develop and evolve. At that time, the term “sonata” was mainly understood to mean Piano Sonatas, or sonatas for another solo instrument with piano accompaniment. In its basic form, a classical sonata consists of three, or occasionally four movements, where the first fast movement is written in ’sonata form’, the second movement is slower, and the third movement is usually fast again, and can take various forms.
In a four-movement sonata, a dance movement in the form of a minuet or a scherzo is usually inserted before the last movement. The greatest exponents of the sonata were arguably three composers of the first Viennese school, Joseph Haydn, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart " 1972" text="Ludwig van Beethoven. Beethoven’s most famous sonata is without a doubt the Moonlight Sonata.
for: 2 oboes
Ensemble score
Item no.: 1690254
for: Clarinet [Flute, oboe], basso continuo
Piano score, parts
Item no.: 408357
for: Piano 4 hands
Item no.: 288621
for: Piano
Item no.: 288096
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 318568
for: Piano
5 CDs
Item no.: 796601
Edition Schott
for: Alt-Blockflöte und Basso Continuo (Klavier), Violoncello oder Viola da gamba ad libitum
Music score
Item no.: 729699
Nach dem Autograph und der Originalausgabe (Urtextausgabe) (Urtext)
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 125036
for: Guitar
Music score
Item no.: 738181
op. 5
for: Violine und Cembalo (Klavier); Violoncello (Viola da gamba) ad lib.
Music score
Item no.: 725017
B minor and G minor
for: Oboe [flute/violin], basso continuo
Music score
Item no.: 749581
for: Flute, piano
Piano score, solo part, playback-CD
Item no.: 341293
in der Bearbeitung für Trompete und Orgel
Transposition von T 20005
for: Trumpet, organ
Ensemble score, solo part
Item no.: 656796
for: Trumpet, 2 violins, viola, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 1714894
for: 4 Hörner in F
Score, Parts
Item no.: 459440
for: 2 treble recorders [flutes]
Ensemble score
Item no.: 420926
for: Violin, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 288999
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 675714
for: Flute, basso continuo
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 117436
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 378603
Commentary and Preparatory Exercises
for: 1–2 cellos
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 777443
Instructive Edition
Volume 1: KV 279–330
for: Piano
Music score
Item no.: 285859
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 316274
for: Violin, viola
Item no.: 282501
for: Violin, viola
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 282725
for: Harpsichord
Buch
Item no.: 389086
for: Oboe, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 412743
for: Cello, piano
Piano reduction, Solo part(s)
Item no.: 379206
for: Clarinet [2 Clarinets] and Piano
Score
Item no.: 388967
for: Treble recorder, basso continuo
Item no.: 195144
for: Violin, piano
Item no.: 401417
for: Piano
Item no.: 401117
for: 3 VL 2 VA VC BC
Score, Set of parts
Item no.: 109192
for: Viola, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 344143
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 1552080
Henle Urtext Editions
for: Piano
Music score (Urtext edition)
Item no.: 678973
for: Flute, guitar
Item no.: 208785
for: 3 cellos, double bass
Score, Parts
Item no.: 226745
for: Piano
Item no.: 304492
for: 2 violins, cello, basso continuo
Score, Parts
Item no.: 409462
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 471329
for: Violin, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 108887
for: Violin
Music score
Item no.: 108820
for: Bassoon, cello
Ensemble score
Item no.: 282624
for: Violin [flute], harp
Item no.: 181656
for: Bassoon, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 177283
for: Violin, piano
Score, Parts
Item no.: 256841
for: Cello, piano
Piano score, solo part
Item no.: 208483